Balanced load hanger



Oct. 27, 1953 T. K. HOLMEN 2,656,997

BALANCED LOAD HANGER Filed Jan. 51, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

TborIebK/lolmen BYW 4%:-

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALANCED LOAD HANGERThorleif K. Holmen, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 31, 1951, Serial No. 208,801

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved balanced load hanger forfurnishing spring support for pipe and other heavy objects subject tomotion and specifically it refers to a balanced load hanger of a simplerand more easily adjustable type, where the necessary spring tension maybe calculated in advance for a given load and where only a slightadjustment is necessary.

An important object of the present invention, is to furnish a balancedload hanger in which the spring can be pre-calculated for a given load,so as to require only a slight additional adjustment at the time oferection.

Another object of this invention, is to provide a balanced load hangerof simple construction, that can be manufactured at low cost and havinga simple adjusting mechanism which permits adjustment of the springinside of the necessary range, by simple means.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a balanced load hanger embodying myinvention,

Figure 2 represents a section taken along line 22 in Figure 1,

Figure 3 represents a plan view of a somewhat different embodiment of myinvention,

Figure 4 represents a section taken along line 4-4 in Figure 3,

Figure 5 represents a schematic diagram of the balanced load hangersupporting a pipe, and

Figure 6 represents an enlarged view of the adjusting means used toadjust the tension of the spring.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration, are shown twosimilar preferred embodiments of my invention, the numeral ll'ldesignates the outer housing, which is preferably made from steel pipe.The housing In is supported by a strap H, which as illustrated inFigures 1 and 2, consist of a U-shaped piece of flat steel, samefastened at both ends by means of bolts 12, and being supported from asuitable high beam or other structure by the bolt l3 as shown in Figure5. The bolt I3 is placed at a suitable off centered position in relationto pipe Ill as will hereinafter be described.

Referring now to Figure 2, inside pipe In, there is a heavy coil springM which rests upon the ring I5, which is preferably welded into thehousing ID. The lower end of the spring is thus solidly supported uponring l5, and cannot move. The upper end of the spring [4, is free tomove and carries to washer I6. A bolt 11 is supported centrally in thewasher l6 and carries the link l8, which is pivoted at l9 to the lever20. The one end of the lever 20, is pivoted to the bracket 2|, which isanent to the housing 10. The other end of the lever 20, is pivoted to alink 22, which supports the load carrying bolts 23. The lower end of thebolt 23, carries a suitable strap 24, which supports the pipe 25, seeFigure 5.

The balanced load hanger illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, is very similarto the one illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, except that the spring I4 isof a diiierent type and is under tension while the spring in Figure 2 isunder compression. In the species shown in Figures 3 and 4, the strapII, is a flat piece of steel, welded directly across the top of thehousing [0. A bolt 26, located in the center of the strap ll, supportsthe upper end of the spring [4 and the lower end of the spring is pumpedinto a link 21, which is pivoted to lever 20, similarly as previouslydescribed. As mentioned, the only significant difference in the species,illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, is the fact that the spring I4 is undertension rather than compression. The function is otherwise the same.

In Figure 6, is illustrated in enlarged scale a little device, wherebythe spring may be adjusted to get the exact tension desired. This deviceconsists of a spring member 28, of thin metal, upon which are fastenedtwo metal pieces 29 and 30. This assembly is placed around the wire ofthe spring l4, preferably from the outside as shown in Figure 2, and bysliding this assembly along the wire until it is in the proper position,the spring l4 may be effectively shortened or lengthened until it isgiving the correct tension. When the spring [4, is compressed, theindividual turns of same move closer together and when therefore, themetal pieces 29 and 30 are interposed between the turns, these will cometogether sooner and will prevent further compression. It can bedemonstrated by calculation that this is the same in effect, as if thespring had been cut shorter and as a result it will give a differenttension. It is obvious that this particular method is only usable in thecompression spring, but a similar arrangement in which a U clamp spanstwo turns of the spring, can also be used for a tension spring. Thislater form is not illustrated, because it is obvious to one skilled inthe art.

The operation is as follows: In any given application the load to becarried is usually determined in advance with considerable accuracy. Itis also usually possible to determine the amount of motion in thevertical direction. With this data at hand, it is possible to calculateby known mathematical formulas the required tensions and moment of thesprin inside of the range of movement desired. After the tensionrequired has been calculated, a spring is made to these specificationsand the hanger is installed. If after installing the hanger, it isnecessary to make a slight adjustment, this is accomplished by movingthe spring clip illustrated in Figure as described above. By placing themetal parts 29 and 36 between the windings of the spring, the springwill become shorter and will change its tension accordingly. Du to thesimple and efiicient construction of the present hanger however, verylittle adjustment is required. The simple construction with the rods I3and 2% in line and with the spring M acting as a counter weight, greatlysimplifies the statieal system involved. It is thus possible to make thesprings of a more advantageous size and the entire assembly becomes morecompact and of greater utility.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a balanced load hanger of the character described the combinationof a cylindrical housing; a U-iorined strap fastened with both ends atone end of said housing; a supportin bolt fas tened to said strap at apoint off center from said cylindrical housing; a cylindrical helicalspring supported with its lower end in said cylindrical housing; acylindrical washer resting upon the upper free end of said cylindricalhelical spring; a bolt being placed in the center of said washer; a linkbeing supported by said bolt; a lever pivotal with one end in the lowerportion of said cylindrical housing below said spring; a second linkbeing pivotal to the free end of said lever, and a hanger bolt beingfastened to said second link.

2. A balanced load hanger of the character described comp-risin acylindrical housing having normally its axis in a perpendicularposition, said housing having near its lower end, and inside same, anintegral ring fastened horizontally in same; a cylindrical helicalspring resting with its lower end on said ring and being concentric withsaid housing; a cylindrical washer being placed upon the free upper endof said helical spring; a link being hung from the centre of said Washerparallel to the axis of said spring; a lever pivoted at one end to thelower part of said housin at a point below said ring; a lower supportingrod being pivotal to the other end of said spring, and an uppersupporting rod being 'pivotally fastened to the upper part of saidhousing at a position coaxial with said lower supporting rod.

THORLEIF K. HOLD/HEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName I Date 1,252,397 Carter Jan. 8, 1918 2,145,704 Wood Jan. 31, 19392,159,870 Wert May 23, 1939 2,230,340 Shreffler Feb. 4, 1941 2,352,136Ten Eyck June 20, 194A

